Sterilizing container



Sept. 4, 1945. c. B. RAVEN STERILIZING CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 22, 1945 71.

Sepfi. 4, 1945. Q EN 2,384,398

STERILIZING CONTAINER Filed June22, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a 3 wow/whoa, CARL 5. E74 VEvV Patented Sept. 4, 194

STERILIZING CONTAIN ER Carl B. Ravn, Halsingborg, Sweden, assignor to Ingenitirsfi'rma Viggo Aktiebolag, Halsingborg, Sweden, a corporation of Sweden Application June22, 1943, Serial No. 491,821 In Sweden June 20, 1942 17 Claims.

When sterilizing surgical instruments, first-aid requisites and the like by means of steam of elevated pressure in sterilizing containers it is of great importance that practically all the air is expelled from the autoclaves and containers, as the presence of even such a small amount of air as -20% may affect the sterilizing property of the steam. It is therefore important that the steam shall be able to enter easily into every part of the container so that no air pockets arise in the container. Besides this, it must be possible to close the container so tight that it is impossible for foreign matter to enter after termination of the sterilization process. sterilizing containers now used do not fulfil this requirement.

One object of the present invention is to provide a sterilizing container that fulfils the above mentioned extremely important requirement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sterilizing container that is not impaired by a number of disadvantages from which the hitherto known sterilizing containers suffer, e. g., that one or more flaps or lids of the container must be opened, when the container is inserted into the autoclave, so that steam of elevated pressure may have access to the interior ofthe container, it being necessary to close the said flaps or lids, when the container is taken out of the autoclave after the steam treatment, so that no impure air or other foreign matter may enter the container.

Overcoming this disadvantage of the known cona sterilizing container, whereby a bag of textile material or filter paper is used as germ filter.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sterilizing container, whereby the bag serving as a germ filter made of textile material or preferably filter paper need not be folded for assuring germ-tightness.

Another object of the invention is to produce a sterilizing container, whereby it is possible to ascertain with certainty at a single glance Should the attendant be in such doubt,

whether the container is germ-tight closed or not.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be understood from the following description of a suitable embodiment of the invention, as shown in the drawings.

In the drawings Fig. 1 shows an outer casing for the sterilizing container seen from the side and partly in section.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the casing according to Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a basket seen from the side and partly in section.

Fig. 4 sho" isthebasket, seen from underneath.

Fig. 5 shows oni-agsmaller scale a bag seen from the side. and. partly in. section.

Fig. 6 shows on'a large scale a fragmentary section through the upper corner portion of the assembled and closed sterilizing container according into the invention.

Fig. 7 shows a similarfragmentary section as Fig. 6 through a modified embodiment of the sterilizing container according to the invention.

Fig. 8 shows a similar fragmentary section as Figs. 6 and 7 of a further modified embodiment, of the sterilizing container according to the invention.

The sterilizing container shown in the drawings consists of an outer casing I (see Figs. 1 and 2) which can be closed by means of a lid 2. The casing herein shown is cylindrical, but it can be given any suitable form, although that of a cylinder is to be preferred. The lateral wall and bottom herein shown are made of netting stretched on a frame of metal laths, but they may also, although in certain respects not so. ad-

vantageously, be made of perforated sheet metal.

So that steam may have free access to the bot-' tom of the outer casing Leven when it is placed on the bottom of the sterilizing autoclave, forf to be perforated.

The sterilizing container consists furthermore of a basket 5 (see Figs. 3 and 4) that is insertable into the casing, said basket being shown consisting of netting stretched 'on a lath frame, but

. of filter paper.

may also be made of any other perforated material. So that the basket may easily be taken out of the outer casing I' it is provided with a pair of annular grips 6 and, so that it may stand steady on the table or the like, it is provided with small feet 7.

Finally'the sterilizingcontainer consists also of a bag 8'(see Fig. into which the basket 5 may be inserted and which, together with the bag inserted therein, can be introduced into the outer casing l. The bag 8 may be made of textile material or, what is especially advantageous, The use of the last mentioned material for the bag is made possible by'thefact that the outercasing I and the basket are'm'ade of comparatively fine-meshed netting orpossibly paper or other material of inferior stretching property the edge portion of the bag may preferably consist of a. strip of material, that is more tensile.

As shown in Fig. 7 the height of the bag 8 is most preferably of approximately the same height as that of the basket 5 said bag having two circumferential sealing strips [4 which are stuck to the inside or the outside of the bag around its upper edge portion. One of these sealing strips I4 is folded over the upper edge of the of sheet metal densely perforated to assure ample entrance for the steam, said material protecting the relatively fragile germ filter from injury'from without. v I g- Inside the outer casing I there should pref erably be one or more holding means,-from which the basket 5 together with bag 8 may be suspended. As shown (see especiallyFig. 6) such a holder may preferably consist of an inward projecting circumferential rib llarranged on. the upper part of the outer casing l, 'on'which rim the basket 5 together with the "bag 8 is suspensible by means of a circumferential outwardly project- T6 prevent "the germs from penetrating to'thc sterilizedthings inside the basket '5, the unper forated lid 2 of the outer casing I may, when closed, be in sealingfengagement with either the top edge of the basket or with th up per edge of the oute'r casing. By the adaptation of ribs 9 and I0, the-germ-tight'. bag 8 is caused to lie zigzag between the rims'flz and I3, thus, assuring a very good germ-tightsealing, so that wh en the lid 2 is in sealing engagement. with the upper edge offthe casing, thegerms cannot. come in through the lateral wall of the casing I andup through thespacebetween the "casing and the bag 8 and over the upper edge of the latter and of basket 5 into 'said basket or when the lid. 2 is in sealing engagement with theupper edge of the basketS'the'g'er'rns cannot come inthroughthe space between theflid and the upper edges of the casing l and of the bag ,8 and downthrough the space between the bag 8 and the basket 5 and in through the wall of the latter t the things in the basket. W

' To further assure a tight sealing, the bag 8 may be made of such height, that, when it is positioned around the basket 5 and the latter inserted in the outer casing l, its upper edge extends beyond the upper edges of the basket and of the outer casingand can be folded over either the upper edge of the basket, when the lid 2 is placed in sealing engagement with the upper edge of thebasket, or asshown in Fig. 6, the

upper edge of the outer casing i, when the lid is placed in sealing engagement with the upper edge of the casing. That; part of the bag folded over'theed geof the basket :5 or of the casing I hereby serves aspackmg between the said edge ahd'the lid 2. When the bag is made of filter casing l, and the other strip is folded over the upper edge of the basket 5. The lid 2 may be placed in sealing engagement with either the upper edge of the basket or the upper edge of the casing, or with both, and-it is preferably.

provided with a downward projecting rib [5 which isarranged in such a manner that, when the lid is closed, it projects downwards between the upper edge of the basket and that of the casing and presses the sealing strips against ,the respective rims I 2 and i3 of the casing and basket respectively. If the bag 8 is made of filter paper the sealing strips It may advantageously be made of another more tensile material. In case the bag 8 is made of filter paper, one of the sealing strips l4, preferably the inner one, may, if desired, consist of theupper edge part of the bag whose height is greater than that of the basket 5. The outer sealing strip 14 is preferably made so broad or, when said sealing strip is formed bytthe bag itself (also applicable to the embodiment, shown in Fig. 6) the bag is madeso high that when it is folded over the upperedge l2 of the casing it projects somewhat under the closed: lid 2 and is completely visible from without whereby, after the closing ofthe container, the attendant may make sure that the bag is in its proper-position and that the container istherefore completely germ-tight. n i i 2 The invention is, of course, not to be considered as being limited to the embodiment of, the sterilizing container according to the present invention as shown and describedherein, as a great number of modifications regarding the various details of the arrangement may be carried out within the scope and spirit of the invention. ,Due consideration must be given to the fact, thatthe lid 2 shown unperforated in the drawings may, if desired, be made of perforated material, for in stance netting as shown-in Fig. 8, the lid in such case comprising double walls 2a and 2b with a filter paper IE or a cloth of textilematerialiinserted therebetween, so that germs 'are prevented from entering the container through the lid. The lid wall.2a is preferably secured by means of resilient clamps l1 arranged around the edge of lid wall 2b, in a recess in the lid wall 2b, whereby the filter paper I6 is preferably of somewhat greater diameter than that of the lid wall 211,

as shown in Fig. 8, so that its edge will project i in the container; and besides this, a perforated lid causes rather considerable veniences.

. What I claim and'desire tosecure by-Letters Patent is:

v1. A sterilizing container comprising an outer casing having a perforated lateral Wall and a -practi'cal inconbottom, alid for closing said casing, a basket of perforated material removably supported in said casing, and a bag of germ-tight material permitting the passage of fluids therethrough tom ofsaid casing in spaced relation to the surface supporting said casing'and permitting free access offl-uid to -the underside of said bottom, a lid for closing said casing, a basket of perforated material and removably mounted in said casing, and a bag of germ-tight material permitting the passage of fluid therethrough and mounted between said casing and said basket.

3. A sterilizing container comprising an outer casing having a perforated lateral wall and a perforated bottom, a germ-tight lid for closing said casing, a basket of perforated material andremovably mounted in said casing, and a bag .of germ-tight material permitting the passage of fluid therethrough and removably mounted between said casing and said basket.

4. A sterilizing container comprising an outer casing having a perforated lateral wall and a perforated bottom, a basket. of perforated material removably mounted in said casing, a germtight lid for closing said casing and germ-tight sealing the interior of said basket against the atmosphere, and a bag of germ-tight material permitting the passage of fluid therethrough and mounted between said casing and said basket.

5. A sterilizing container comprising an outer casing having a perforated lateral wall and a perforated bottom, holding means in said casing, a basket of perforated material mounted in suspended relationship on said holding means in said casing, a germ-tight lid for closing said casing and germ-tight sealing the interior of said basket against the atmosphere, and a bag of germ-tight material permitting the passage of fluid therethrough and mounted between said casing and said basket.

6. A sterilizing container comprising an outer casing having a perforated lateral wall and a bottom, an inwardly projecting circumferential rib arranged on the upper part of said casing, a basket of perforated material and fitting in said casing, an outwardly projecting circumferential rib on said basket for suspending said basket in said casing on said inwardly projecting rib, a germ-tight lid for closing said casing and germtight sealing the interior of said basket against th atmosphere, and a bag of germ-tight material permitting the passage of gas therethrough and mounted between said casing and said basket.

7. A sterilizing container comprising an outer casing having a perforated lateral wall and a bottom, an unperforated upper edg band on said casing, an inwardly projecting circumferential rib on said edge band, a basket of perforated material fitting in said casing, an unperforated upper edge band on said basket, an outwardly projecting rib on said edge band of said basket for suspending said basket in said casing on said inwardly projecting rib, a germ-tight lid for closing said casing and germ-tight sealing the interior of said basket against the atmosphere, and a bag of germ-tight material permitting the passage of gas therethrough and mounted between said casing and said basket.

8. A sterilizing container comprising an outer casing having a perforated lateral wall and a bottom, a-basket of perforated material mounted in said casing, a germ-tight 1mm closing said casing, a bag of germ-tight material permitting the passage of gas therethrough and insertable between said-casing and said basket, and means on said bag for engagement with said lid for obtaining a germ-tight sealing of the interior of said basket against the atmosphere.

9. A sterilizing container comprising an outer casing having a perforated lateral wall and a T bottom, a basket of perforated material mounted in said casing, a. germ-tight lid for closing said casing, a bag of germ-tight material permitting the passage of gas and mounted between said casing and said basket, and an upper edge portion on said bag being folded over the edge of said casing and clamped between said lid and said edge of said casing.

10. A sterilizing container comprising an outer casing having a perforated lateral wall and a bottom, a basket of perforated material mounted in said casing, a germ-tight lid for closing said casing, and a bag of germ-tight material permitting the passage of gas and mounted between said casing and said basket, said bag having an upper edge portion adapted to be folded over the edge of said casing being clasped between said lid and said upper edge of said casing and extending beyond the edge of said lid, so that it is completely visible from the outside of the container.

11. A sterilizing container according to claim 10, in which said upper edge portion of said bag is stronger than the rest of said bag.

12. A sterilizing container comprising an outer casing having a perforated lateral wall and a bottom, a basket of perforated material mounted in said casing, a germ-tight lid for closing said casing, and a bag of germ-tight material permitting the passage of gas and mounted between said casing and said basket, said bag having two upper edge parts of which one is folded over the edge of said basket and the other is folded over the edge of said casing for engagement with said lid for obtaining a germ-tight sealing of the interior of said basket against the atmosphere.

13. A sterilizing container comprising an outer casing having a perforated lateral wall and a bottom, a basket of perforated material mounted in said casing, a germ-tight lid for closing said casing, a bag of germ-tight material permitting the passage of gas and mounted between said casing and said basket, said bag having two upper edge parts of which one is folded over the edge of said basket and the other is folded over the edge of said casing for engagement with said lid for obtaining a germ-tight sealing of the interior of said basket against the atmosphere, and said other edge part projectin below said lid to a position where it is visible from the outside of the container.

14. A sterilizing container comprising an outer casing having a perforated lateral wall and a bottom, a basket of perforated material mounted in said casing, a germ-tight lid for closing said casing, a bag of germ-tight material permitting the passage of gas and mounted between said casing and said basket, said bag having two upper edge parts of which one is folded over the edge of said basket and the other is folded over the edge of said casing for engagement with said lid for obtaining a germ-tight sealing of the interior of said basket against the atmosphere, said other edge part projecting below said lid to a position where it is visible from without, and a rib on said lid projecting downward between said two edge parts of said bag. 1

15'. A sterilizing container according to claim 1.4, in which said upper edge part which is folded over the edge of said casing is strengthened relative to the rest of said bag. 7

16. A sterilizing container comprising an outer casing having a perforated lateral wall, a perforated bottom and an 'unperforated lid-for closing said casing, a basketof perforated material in said casing, and a bag of germ-tight material permitting the passage of gas therethrough and provided between said casing and said basket.

,17. A sterilizing container comprising an outer casing having a perforated lateral wall and a perforated bottom, a double-walled perforated lid for closing said casing, a germ-tight filter means permitting the passage of gas between the walls of said double-walled lid, a basket in said casing, and a bag of germ-tight material permitting the passage of gas therethrough and provided between said casin and said basket.

CARL B. RAVEN. 

